MASSACHUSETTS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT
JUDICIAL BRANCH ON STUDENT GOVERNMENT DAY
High
school students from across the Commonwealth visited the
Supreme Judicial Court on Student Government Day, Friday,
April 4, to learn about the role of the judiciary, the
work of the appellate courts, and the importance of a rule
of law in a constitutional democracy. Designated as “Justices” or “Clerks” for
the day, the nine students and their school advisors spent
several hours at the John Adams Courthouse after an introduction
to Student Government Day at the State House.
Supreme
Judicial Court Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall said, “I
am delighted that these young people are visiting the
Supreme Judicial Court as part of Student Government
Day. What a wonderful opportunity to learn about John
Adams’s influence on the establishment of our three
branches of government and his authorship of the Massachusetts
Constitution, the oldest written constitution in the
world.”
A
highlight of the students’ day was a meeting with
Supreme Judicial Court Justice Roderick L. Ireland, who
explained the role of the appellate courts and described
his own experiences and career path. Clerk for the Commonwealth
Susan Mellen and Clerk for Suffolk County Maura Doyle
also met with the students to discuss the work of their
respective offices.
The
group toured the historic John Adams Courthouse with
a Discovering Justice docent. Following the tour, they
enjoyed an informal lunch and meeting with Supreme Judicial
Court law clerks. The group also viewed the 2007 WGBH –TV
documentary, “The Opinion Makers,” a behind-the-scenes
view of the Supreme Judicial Court.
Sponsored
by the Massachusetts Department of Education, Student
Government Day was established in 1947 and gives young
people an opportunity to learn about state government
through meetings with state officials and observation
of governmental proceedings.
Student
Government Day is one of the many law related activities
that take place each year at the John Adams Courthouse.
Legal education programs, courthouse tours, mock trials,
symposiums, and other such events are scheduled on days
and evenings. Approximately 8,400 students, teachers,
lawyers, law professors, judges, and community groups
from many countries visited the John Adams Courthouse
last year.
Student
Delegates
Justin
Zolot (Chief Justice)
Austin
Prepatory School, Reading
Misty
Bove (Justice)
Baypath
Regional Vocational Tech High School, Charlton
Ellen
Carroll (Justice)
Bishop
Stang High School, North Dartmouth
Jacqueline
Kramlinger (Justice)
Bedford
High School
Christopher
Moran (Justice)
Bartlett
Junior/Senior High School, Webster
Travis
Pommenville (Justice)
Ayer
High School
Alex
Renner (Justice)
Bishop
Feehan High School, Attleboro
Jennifer
Bui (Clerk for the Commonwealth)
Burncoat Senior High School, Worcester
Brittany Pereira (Clerk for Suffolk County)
Bridgewater Raynham Regional High School
Photos
from the Student Government Day
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